Display device



Feb. 14, 1956 J. F. FEWSTER ET AL 2,734,295

DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets$heet 1 Filed June 14, 1951 82, 6 6 3nventor$ (JAMES F F'EWSTER.

JOHN WESLEY NOBLE sz (Ittornegs Feb. 14, 1956 Filed June 14, 1951 :plg- 6 97 9 90 x w H 91 80 l l 92 9B 66 J. F. FEWSTER ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mumm Zmventors JAMES F? FEWs-rER 62 JOHN WE LEY NOBLE (Ittornegs Feb. 14, 1956 J. F. FEWSTER ET AL 2,734,295

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 14, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 0 870A 3381LK F Jg-BO 3rwentors E dAMEs F. FEWSTER Q 5 JOHN WESLEY NOBLE 5 a a. 81 WZ q attorney.

1956 J. F. FEWSTER ET AL 2,734,295

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 14, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zinventora 77 JAMES F? FEWSTER. Q

8 JOHN WESLEY NOBLE Gttomegs Feb. 14, 1956 J. F. FEWSTER ET AL 2,734,295

DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1951 VII 1%" 186 Zmventors JAME: F FEW$TEJZ q JOHN WESLEY Nos/.5

wgmzlqw Gttomegs United States Patent O "'1 ce DISPLAY DEVICE James F. Fewster, Dayton, Ohio, and John Wesley Noble, Fincastle, Va., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Motion, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,572

24 Claims. (Cl. 40-32) This invention relates to display devices and the like for advancing articles such as display cards successively to a viewing or other operative position such as for advertising, display or educational purposes.

More particularly the invention relates to a device of this character for handling a plurality of such articles arranged in two stacks in such manner that successive articles are moved from the first stack past a viewing or other operative position to the second stack so that each article progresses successively through the operative position and both stacks. The articles may progress in this manner back and forth between the stacks, or they may move continuously or with a step by step motion, with successive articles at opposite ends of the stacks moving in opposite directions from stack to stack.

The invention has special application to a display device for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality thereof such, for example, as advertising cards of the type commonly used in public vehicles, and one of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a display device of this type which is simple and economical to construct and maintain, which is relatively small in size while still capable of handling a substantial number of cards, which is so constructed and arranged that the cards therein are easily and quickly exchanged, and which is especially adapted for installations such as in street cars, buses, trains, and similar locations where it is desired to have maximum advertising area in a comparatively limited space.

The space available for car card advertising in a transportation vehicle is relatively limited and there is thus a maximum potential revenue for any vehicle or fleet of vehicles which cannot be exceeded with the ordinary card installations. However in accordance with the present invention, the same space in the vehicle is utilized in such a way that a greatly increased amount of display or advertising space is available, thus materially augmenting the potential revenue from each vehicle. In addition, instead of having the cards merely fixed and With limited reader attention possibilities, there is a continual movement of the cards in an apparently endless succession which in itself is stimulating and intriguing so that the display has a much greater reader interest. These effects mutually enhance each other and the result is a highly desirable display which produces a greater following by the readers of a larger number of cards or area of display, thus producing a greatly enhanced advertising medium.

In addition this device has advantages in other fields, particularly in point of sale advertising such as in retail stores, department stores, food stores and the like, being especially desirable in these fields since it is readily adapted for the display of advertising on both sides and thus capable of the same increased reader interest when viewed from either direction. It may be set up on a counter or above an aisle while it stimulates interest and attracts a following of readers from both sides and hence its advertising value is still further increased.

2,734,295 Patented Feb. 14, 1956 The device is also similarly advantageous in other fields such as institutional advertising or education, as for example in banks, insurance offices, schools, as well as in the field of industrial displays for exhibitions, conventions, etc. The term card" or car card as used herein is accordingly intended to apply not only to the advertising cards such as those currently used in transportation vehicles but generally to include any card-like or sheet material, printed or otherwise illustrated or decorated for advertising, education, or other display purposes.

An illustrative example of display device in accordance with the invention includes a casing adapted for mounting in a bus or street car and in which are located a. plurality of carriers each adapted to receive and support a display card. These carriers are connected by individual couplers to form therewith a continuous linkage consisting solely of the carriers and couplers without requiring a chain or other continuous connecting device. The casing is of sufficient length to receive a plurality of carriers in endwise relation and is divided by a central zone to form a space at each end for receiving a stack of the carriers in sidewise relation, and these spaces are connected by passageways at each side of the central zone for receiving the carriers in single file.

A viewing window is provided in one or both sides of the casing, depending upon whether one or both sides are exposed in use, and a drive such as an electric motor is mounted within the central zone in the casing and includes a drive gear or like driving member arranged to engage successive carriers at each side of the central zone to move them through the passageways from one stack to the other. In operation, the carriers move successively from the front of each stack, to and through the adjacent passageway past the viewing window or Win.- dows to the back of the other stack, and guides are provided as required within the casing to maintain this movement of the carriers in a continuous path.

It is accordingly another object of the invention to provide a display device of the above character in which the carriers for the display cards are connected to each other by individual couplers in such manner to form a continuous linkage without including a chain or other continuous connecting device, and which incorporates a drive'and an associated guiding structure for causing the linked carriers to move in a continuous path past a viewing aperture for successively displaying the cards.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a display device of the above type which is particularly adapted for installation in vehicles such as street cars, buses and other public vehicles, as well as in like locations offering a comparatively limited space, and which is constructed and arranged for ready servicing and maintenance in such installations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a card display device in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a moved position of the' cards and carriers Within the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the display device with the front of the casingbroken away and the carriers removed to illustrate details of internal construction and arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the upper guiding and separating plate or bar for the carriers within the casing;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly broken away, showing details of the construction of the carrier linkage and easing;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of one of the carrier units and cards;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a different form of construction for the carrier;

Fig. 11 is a somewhatdiagrammatic top view illustrating'the operation of the display device;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the relaetive' positions of the parts following movement from the positions shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 11 and 13 showing the positions of the parts following movement from the positions shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of'a fragment of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Figs. 11, 13 and 15 showing the positions of the parts following movement from the positions shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the relative positions of portions of several of the carriers at another stage in the operation of the device;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the arrangement of a switch for controlling operation of the display device;

"Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the switch shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing an arrangement for mounting the display device in a street car or bus;

Fig. 24 is an exploded perspective of the mounting bracket shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 2-5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the mounting bracket in position on the display device;

Fig. 26 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 27 is a detail view in perspective showing one of the couplers for connecting adjacent carriers to form a linkage;

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a form of the display device in which the card carriers move vertically rather than horizontally;

Fig. 29 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section showing the display device of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is a detail view of one of the carrier units for the device of Figs. 28 and 29;

Fig. 31 is a somewhat diagrammatical end view similar to Fig. 11 and illustrating the operation of the device of Fig. 28; s

Fig. 32 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 31;

Fig. 33 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly broken away, showing details of the construction of the carrier linkage of Figs. 28-32;

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary section of one end of one of the carriers taken on the line 34-34 of Fig. 33; and

Figs. 35 and 36 are fragmentary sections on the lines 35-35 and 36-36 of Fig. 33, respectively. 2

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, Figs. 1-27 show a display device for moving successive display cards horizontally past a viewing position. This device includes an elongated and relatively narrow casing 30 having a viewing window 31 of glass or transparent plastic extending along the front side thereof. At the back, the casing includes a plate 32 which may be of fiber, metal or opaque material if the device is to be mounted with only its front exposed, or if both sides of the device are to be exposed, the plate 32 should also be transparent. With- 1n the casing 30 is a plurality of carriers indicated genorally at 33, twelve being shown, and each of these carriers supports a display card 35, such as the, well known car card or other display. As shown in Fig. 1, the casing is of sufficient length to receive three of these carriers and cards in endwise relation, and a drive is provided such that the carriers move successively across the window 31 in a continuous annular path.

Figs. 6 to 9 show in detail a carrier unit constructed in accordance with the invention to carry a display card in the casing 30. It includes a frame bar 4! which may readily be produced by die casting, having at each end a vertically arranged pin or rod 41 adapted to lit within an envelope 42 of transparent plastic for enclosing the card 35. If the device is used with two windows, a pair of cards 35 may be mounted back to back in each carrier as shown in Fig. 7, or a single card and a stiffening board may be used. The bar 40 is formed with a longitudinal groove 44 in its upper surface for receiving the card or cards 35, and the portions of the bar on each side of this groove are slotted at 45 to serve as gear teeth in cooperation with the drive gear 46 as described hereinafter. The portions of the bar 40 are proportioned as shown so that the card or cards 35 are received within the groove 44- while the envelope 42 rests on top of the bar, and the upper edge of the envelope may be notched at 47 to facilitate changing the cards.

The frame bar 40 of each carrier 33 is also formed on its bottom side with a longitudinal slot 49 which extends from end to end thereof but is closed at each end as shown in Fig. 8. The carriers are connected in pairs to form a continuous linkage by means of a plurality of couplers 50, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 27 and each of which comprises a small circular disk having thereon a pair of upwardly projecting pin portions 51 adapted to engage within the slots 49 in an adjacent pair of carriers. As shown in Fig. 3, the pin portions 51 on each coupler are spaced from each other by a distance sufiicient to receive the wall portions along the side and at each end of. the slots 49 in the frame bars 40 of a pair of the carriers, and these pins and slots are so proportioned that two such pins or separate couplers are free to slide past each other within the Slot as shown in Figs. 16 and 20. The diameter of each coupler is substantially equal to the width of each frame bar 40, and each carrier is thus effectively supported on the disk portions of its two associated couplers, which slide along the bottom of the casing.

Fig. 10 shows a somewhat different construction of a carrier unit suitable for use'in place of the unit shown in Figs. 6 to 9. It includes a bottom frame composed of a strap 55 wrapped around a center bar 56 to form therewith a groove 57 for receiving the lower edge of a card and a slot 58 which corresponds to the slot 49 and is adapted to receive the pin portions on the couplers 59. At each end of this frame is a channeled upright member 60 which is adapted to be received within an envelope 42, and the strap 55 is provided with a series of punched holes 61 which correspond to the slots 45 in the frame 40 of carrier 33.

The interior construction of the device is shown in Figsv 3 to 6. Two separator blocks 65 and an upper separator bar 66 cooperate to define a central zone within the casing 30 proportioned to leave space at each end of the casing for a stack of carriers 33 in sidewise relation, and the width of the blocks 65 and bar 66 are such as to leave a passageway 67 between the inner surface of the casing and the central zone for permitting the passage of the carriers in single file from one stack to the other. The bar 66 is supportedby vertical rods 70 extending upwardly from the blocks 65, and also by a pair of brackets 71 secured to the bottom of the casing as shown in Fig. .3. The'length of'the bar 66 and the space between the outer sides of the two blocks 65 is just equal to the length of one carrier 33.

The brackets 71 also serve to support a drive unit indicated generally at '75 for driving the gear wheel 46. For example, this drive unit may include a small electric motor 77 (Fig. 26) connected by a suitable speed reduction gearing to the shaft carrying the gear wheel 46. As already noted, this gear 46 has teeth of special form adapted to engage within the slots 45 in the frame bar 40 or the holes 60 in the strap 55 of Fig. 10. Thus as gear 46 rotates, its teeth will directly engage these slots or holes in the carriers 33 at opposite sides of the casing to cause successive carriers to move in opposite directions from one end of the casing to the other.

This operation of the device is shown in diagrammatic detail in Figs. 11 to 20, which show progressive stages in the relative movements of the several carriers with relation to one particular carrier A which has been crosshatched in Figs. 11, 13, 15 and 20 for illustrative identification. The other carriers in these views are identified by the letters B to L inclusive.

Fig. 11 shows the parts in a position corresponding to the showing in Fig. l, with the three carriers A, B and C extending across the front of the casing, and with the carriers G, H and I across the back of the casing. Thus at one end of the casing is a stack consisting of the carriers C to G inclusive and at the other end is a similar stack consisting of carriers A and I to L inclusive. Each stack is held loosely at its outer end in generally centered position in the casing by means of a spring clip 30 formed as shown in detail in Fig. 21 and mounted within the upper portion of the casing as shown in Fig. 3. It should also be noted that in this position of the parts, the couplers .50 connecting all of the carriers in each stack are grouped adjacent the inner ends of the stack and the outer end of the central zone. This arrangement is eifected by a plate 81 on the bottom of the casing beyond each end of the central zone, this plate being of the same thickness as the disk portion of each coupler 5t) and thus serving to receive and support the outer end portions of the carriers in each stack.

Fig. 11 shows gear 46 in engagement with the carriers B and H, and as the gear rotates, it moves these carriers in opposite directions lengthwise of the casing as shown by the arrows. As the carrier B moves, it pulls carrier A through their connecting coupler 5d, and as shown in Fig. 12, this coupler is cammed around the rounded corner of the adjacent separator block 65 to guide the leading end of the carrier A into the passageway 67. At its upper end, carrier A is guided into the passageway by the relieved cam edge 82 at the end of the separator bar 66. At the same time, since all of the couplers in this stack are near the leading end of carrier A, as the latter moves laterally, the couplers cooperate therewith to pull the inner ends of all of the carriers in this stack towards the front of the casing and thus to assure clearance at the back of the stack for leading end of carrier H. A simiiar operation takes place in the other stack, and as the leading end of carrier G is cammed around the corner of the adjacent separator block 65, the inner ends of all the carriers in this stack are pulled over to provide clearance at the front of this stack for the leading end of carrier 3.

Figs. 13 and 14 show the relative positions of the carriers just following movement from the positions shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Carriers A and B are now in direct alignment and in motion across the front of the casing, with the leading end of carrier 13 beginning to slide in front of carrier C and with carrier L beginning to be exposed at the opposite end of the casing as carrier A moves away from the front of it. The carriers G and H are in similar relative positions at the back of the casing, with carrier G beginning to slide into the center position and carrier H beginning to move in at the back of the right hand stack.

Figs. 15 and 17 show the relative positions of the parts following movement of carrier A through approximately its length from the position shown in Fig. 13. Carrier A is accordingly beginning to move across the front of the left hand stack and has pulled carrier L into position behind it in the passageway 67, and carriers F and G are in similar relative positions at the back of the casing. Figs. 16 and 17 show in detail the cooperative action of the plate 81 with the carriers and couplers at this stage of their movements. As carrier A moves, the coupler 50 6 between it and carrier B strikes the inner end of plate 81 and thus is held in alignment laterally of the casing with the other carriers in the left stack, while carrier A continues to move across the upper surface of plate 81 which supports it at the same level as its two couplers.

Figs. 18 and 1.) illustrate the relative positions of the carriers as carrier A reaches the end of its travel from right to left, with the three carriers A, L and K being then aligned across the front of the casing. In reaching this position, the upper part of the leading end of carrier A engages the associated spring clip 80, as shown in Fig. 21, and is cammed and tilted laterally sufficiently to move its trailing end out of direct line with the leading end of carrier L so that as the carriers move beyond this position, proper movement of carrier L across the front of the left hand stack will be assured. As already described, in the next movement of the carriers from the position shown in Fig. 19, the inner ends of all the carriers in the left stack will be pulled towards the back of the casing as carrier E is pulled into the back passageway. This action is illustrated in Fig. 20, which shows the relative positions of the trailing end of carrier F and the leading ends of carriers D and E just prior to movement of the carriers to the position shown in Fig. 19.

It will accordingly be seen that in operation, the continuous linkage composed of the carriers and their couplers is caused to move into a continuous annular path around the central zone defined by the blocks 65 and bar 66 and without rotation. In this operation, each carrier in succession moves from the front of one stack across the viewing window to the front of the other stack, and then is moved successively to the back of the second stack and across the back of the casing to the back of the first stack, and so forth. At all times, two carriers and their cards are visible in their entirety through the window, and periodically three entire cards are visible as shown in Fig. 1.

The construction and operation of the device is not limited to this particular arrangement and may be varied in different ways. For example, if the depth or thickness of the casing is increased, a greater number of carriers can be accommodated in each stack. Similarly the length of the casing may be increased, and if for example the length of the central zone is made equal to the combined length of two carriers, then at all times three cards will be visible in their entirety as described. Also the length of the casing may be reduced to a length just enough greater than that of two carriers to leave a central zone of sufficient size to accommodate the drive and separators, in which case only one card would be entirely exposed at all times while periodically two whole cards would be visible.

The casing 30 is shown as provided with a pair of doors and 91 at its upper end providing access to the interior of the casing for changing the cards in the several carriers. These doors are shown as hinged to the casing at 92 and provided with a common lock 95 for securing them in locked relation with a center web 96 extending longitudinally of the casing. This web is shown as an integral portion of the casing top and is raced by means of bolts 97 extending into the upper ends of the support rods 70.

The doors 90 are shown as of approximately the same length as the central zone within the casing, and accordingly it is desirable to provide means for stopping the carriers successively in accurately centered position lengthwise of the casing to facilitate exchanging of the cards. For this purpose, a switch 99 such as a microswitch may be mounted as shown in Fig. 21 on the upper surface of the separator bar 66 for actuation by the carriers themselves. This switch 99 includes an operating arm 100 having a projection 101 adapted for engagement with the ends of the carriers in the stack at one end of the casing. The arrangement is such that when there is no carrier in centered position lengthwise of the casing, this projection will be engaged by one of the carriers in the 7 stack and actuated to move the arm into the closed position of switch 99. However, when there is a carrier in properly centered position, the projection 101 will slip into the space between an adjacent pair of carriers in the stack to cause the switch to open.

In order to maintain the device in operation except when it is desired to change the cards, an additional switch is provided in parallel with switch 99 as shown in the wiring diagram in Fig. 26, and desired results are obtained with the switch 105 incorporated with the lock 95 in such manner that it is closed when this lock is in locked position. Thus in normal operation, the periodic opening and closing of switch 99 does not afiect operation of the motor.

When it is desired to change the cards, the lock 95 is first unlocked, thus at the same time opening switch 105. The motor 77 will, however, continue to operate until two of the carriers reach centered positions at the front and back of the casing such that the switch arm 101 is able to move outwardly and open switch 99 as shown in Fig. 22. The motor will accordingly stop with two carriers in centered position, and the cards therein may then be removed and changed as desired through the two opened doors 90 and 91. Then in order to move the next two carriers into position, the switch 99 is momentarily closed manually to start the motor, the switch arm 100 being provided with an extension 1116 facilitating this action by the operator. As soon as the motor starts, the continued movement of the carriers will hold switch arm 100 in the closed position of switch 99 until the next two carriers reach centered position, and this operation can be repeated as often as necessary to change the desired number of cards.

This display device is especially adapted for installations such as on buses or street cars, and Figs. 23 to 25 illustrate a mounting arrangement for this purpose. Fig. 23 shows somewhat diagrammatically a typical bus or street car installation, including a conventional curved frame with overturned top and bottom edge portions 111, conventionally used for holding a display card. An adjustable mounting comprising three brackets 115, 116 and 117 is provided for mounting the display device in cooperation with this frame 110.

Referring to Figs. 24 and 25, the bracket includes a pin 120 near its upper end which is adapted to be received in a key hole slot 121 (Figs. 3 and 25) in the upper part of the back of casing 30, and a tongue 122 is secured to the back of the bracket at its upper end for engagement with the overturned portion 111 at the top of the frame 110. The bracket 116 includes a right angle portion 125 at its lower end which is adapted to fit below the casing 30 and to be secured thereto by a screw 126. The bracket 117 is adjustably secured to the brackets 116 and 115 by means of screws in slots 131 and 1152 respectively in brackets 115 and 116. Bracket 117 includes a tongue 133 at its upper end and a projection 134 adapted to fit into slots 131 and 132 respectively to maintain brackets 115 and 116 in alignment, and bracket 117 includes another tongue 135 at its lower end adapted for engagement with the overturned portion 111 along the lower edge of frame 110.

lnmounting the device in position by means of this mounting arrangement, the three brackets are first mounted in place by loosening bolts 130, fitting the tongues 122 and 135into the frame 110, and then tightening bolts 131). Two of these bracket units are provided for each casing and are mounted in the properly spaced relation with respect to the keyhole slots 121 in the casing, and after the bracket units are in position, the device is readily mounted thereon by first engaging the slots 121 N over the pin 120, resting the bottom of the casing on the bracket portions 125, and then inserting and tightening the screws,126

Figs. 23 to 26 also illustrate a simple arrangement for completing the electricalcircuitfrom the display device to an outside source of power. Two contacts are mounted in the back 32 of the casing and are connected by the wires 141 to the motor 77 and switches 99 and 105 as shown in Fig. 26. The bracket 115 carries a similar pair of contacts 142 adapted to be engaged by the respective contacts 140 when the display device is mounted in position, the contacts 142 being secured in properly insulated relation to bracket 115. Wires 144 lead from the contacts 142 and may be connected as by a plug and receptacle 145 to a conduit 146 which may conveniently extend along the length of the top structure of a street car or bus.

Thus when the bracket mountings are installed in place, the connections to the contacts 142 are made, and when the display device itself is mounted in position, this automatically completes the circuits to the motor by way of the contacts 146. It will also be noted that with the door and switch arrangement already described, the cards may be readily changed within the device without moving it from its mounted position, the only qualification on this operation being that depending upon the particular surrounding structure of the installation, it may be possible to obtain access only to the carriers at the front of the casing through the front door 90, so that the cards could be changed only one at a time instead of two at a time as would be the case when both the doors could be fully opened.

The display device of the invention is not limited to this arrangement in which movement of the carriers is horizontal, and Figs. 28-36 show a form of the device having the carriers arranged therein for vertical travel, in which case it may be desirable to change their proportions as shown. For example, this form of the device may be mounted in a bus or trolley bus in a position just behind the driver to face rearwardly of the vehicle towards the passengers, in which event it may have a viewing window only in its rearward side, or if it is mounted in another location where both sides are readily visible, it may have windows on both its front and back.

in the device of Figs. 28-36, the casing 150 is generally channel shaped in cross-section and is provided with a separately removable end section 151 and a door 152 hinged thereto at 153 and provided with a latch 154 and transparent window 155. Reinforcing pieces 156 are town at the top and bottom of the casing to which the end section 151 is bolted at 157, and the end section 151 is also secured to the rods 160 which correspond to rods 70 in the other form of the device shown and connect with the separator blocks 161 secured at each end of the casing. A reinforcing bar 162 extends between the two rods 160 to maintain their outer ends in braced relation, especially when the end section 151 is removed.

The drive motor 165 is mounted at the opposite end of casing 151 from the removable section 151, and the drive shaft 166 extends the full width of the casing through bar 162 and is journaled in a boss or hearing portion 167 of the end section 1.51. The shaft 166 carries a pair of gears 170 each similar to the gear 46 as described, with these two gears 170 being located at opposite ends of the casing and having their respective teeth in accurately aligned relation.

Fig. 30 shows one of the carrier units for use in this form of the invention, and the construction of this carrier unit is shown in more detail in Figs. 3346. At each end laterally of the carrier is a bar generally similar in construction to the bar 40 as previously described and having in the outer edge thereof a groove 181 for receiving the pin portions 51 of a pair of couplers 50 of the same construction as shown in Fig. 27. The opposite edge of each bar 180 is provided with a groove 182 for receiving the edge of a card 35, and the bar is provided with notches or slots to serve as gear teeth in cooperation with the teeth of the drive gears 170.

At each end of each bar 180 is a curved boss portion 184 for receiving one end of a trough shaped crossmember 185 which extends to the opposite bar 180and has at each end a tongue portion 186 extending through the bar 180 and turned over within the groove 181 to secure the component parts of the carrier firmly together. These trough members 185 are of such proportions as shown in Fig. 34 to receive the upper or lower edge of one of the display cards 35, and the parts are so proportioned that by simple flexing of a card, its top, bottom and side edges can be readily inserted in or removed from the grooves 182 and the grooves within the trough members 185.

The operation of this form of the invention is substan tially the same as that already described in connection with Figs. ll-2O and is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 31. As shown, since this form of the invention is not subject to the same space restrictions as for the form designed for mounting in the usual display card areas of a trolley or bus, it can readily be made somewhat thicker or deeper to include a greater number of carriers and cards, a total of sixteen being shown. The blocks 161 define a central zone within the casing having spaces above and below them for the two stacks of carriers connected by narrow passageways at the front and back of the casing. In operation, the gears 170 engage the notches 183 in successive carriers to move the continuous linkage past the window 155 accompanied by stacking and unstacking as already described.

With the device mounted vertically as shown, special provision is made for proper guiding of the couplers 50 around each end of the central zone. At each end near both the top and bottom of the casing, a plate 190 is provided which corresponds with the plates 81 and is effective to maintain the couplers 50 closely adjacent the inner end of each stack as shown in Fig. 31. In order to prevent possible jamming of the couplers for the carriers in the upper stack as they cam around the corner of the separator blocks, a shim or cam 191 is provided on each block 161 of the same thickness as the disk portions of the couplers which raises the couplers just enough as the carriers move around the corners of the block as shown in Fig. 32, to prevent interference between the two pin portions 51 at the lower ends of the carriers. The same action takes place at the back of the casing as each successive carrier starts down into the back passageway, and also at the lower blocks 161 if gravity does not of itself cause proper movement of the couplers. It will also be noted that with this form of the invention, the same action is obtained as already described with the couplers periodically providing a positive pull of the ends of each stack in the proper direction for stacking and unstacking as required.

The initial assembly of this form of the invention is readily carried out with the door 152 open and the end section 151 removed. Thus the several carriers and their couplers may be loaded into the casing and abutted against the back end to hold the couplers in position while the other couplers at the open end of the casing are fitted in place, after which the end section 151 is assembled to hold all the carriers and couplers in proper relation. Changing of the cards is accomplished as already described by simply opening the door 152, flexing each card sufficiently to withdraw it from its carrier, and then inserting a fresh card in substantially the same way, and it will be noted that the notches 183 facilitate removal of the cards by providing access to the edges thereof for a suitable pointed tool.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including m eans to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, a drive within said casing including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said casing to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carriers to provide for alternate back and forth movement of said carriers within said casing while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and means for guiding said carriers in a continuous path past said window without rotation of said carriers.

2. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone within said casing, a drive located in said central zone and including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said zone to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, and guide means cooperating with said drive to cause said carriers to travel in a continuous path around said zone and past said window while maintaining all said carriers in substantially parallel relation throughout the movement thereof, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carriers to provide for shifting of the direction of movement of said carriers at the ends of said zone while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

3. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone within said casing, a drive located in said central zone including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said zone to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, said couplers being relatively movable from one end to the other of both of the carriers associated therewith, and means cooperating with said couplers to guide said carriers laterally of said casing around the ends of said zone causing said carriers to move in a continuous path around said zone and past said window without rotation thereof, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carriers to provide for shifting of the direction of movement of said carriers at the ends of said zone while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

4. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufflcient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of sufficient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at each end of said casing for one said stack of carriers and to establish a passageway on the side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, a drive located in said central zone including means for engaging successive said carriers within said passageway to move said carriers edgewise through said passageway while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, said couplers being relatively movable from one end to the other of both of the carriers associated therewith to facilitate stacking and unstacking of said carriers while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and means forming a viewing window in the side of said casing and adjacent said passageway.

5. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising an elongated casing, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive three of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of sufiicient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, said couplers being relatively movable from one end to the other of both of the carriers associated therewith, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at each end of said casing for one said stack of carriers and to establish a passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, a drive locatcd in said central zone including means for engaging successive carriers within said passageways to move said carriers in opposite directions through said passageways while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, guide means in each said stack space for maintaining the couplers between carriers in each said stack closely adjacent the inner ends of said stack to cause periodic positive shifting of said end of said stack as each successive carrier is drawn into one said passageway from said stack and thereby to establish clearance at the opposite side of said space for receiving a carrier from the other said passageway while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and means forming a viewing window in said casing for displaying the card in each said carrier during passage of said carrier from one stack to the other.

6. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a. plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, a drive within said casing including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said casing to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, each said coupler including a pair of parallel projections, each said carrier having a slot extending from end to end thereof and closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other within said slot to provide for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other in cooperation with said drive to cause travel of all of said carriers in a continuous path within said casing while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

7. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, a drive within said casing including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said casing to move said carriers lengthwise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window while drawing the next following carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, each said coupler including a disk portion adapted to slide on the bottom of said casing and including also a pair of parallel and vertical projections, each said carrier having a lengthwise slot in the bottom thereof closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the width of each said carrier to support said carriers thereon, said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other within said slot to provide for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other in cooperation with said drive to cause travel of all of said carriers in a continuous path Within said casing.

8. A display device for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a plurality of carriers each including means to receive and support one such card, a casing for said carriers of sufiicient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of sufficient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at each end of said casing for one said stack of carriers and a passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, drive means located in said central zone for engaging successive carriers within said passageways to move said carriers in opposite directions through said passageways, each said coupler including a disk portion slidable on the bottom of said casing and a pair of vertical projections, each said carrier having a lengthwise slot in the bottom thereof closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the width of each. said carrier to support said carriers thereon, said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections therewithin past each other for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other, and guide means in each said stack space for maintaining the couplers between carriers in each said stack closely adjacent the inncrs ends of said stack to cause periodic positive shifting of said end of said stack as each successive carrier is drawn into one said passageway from said stack and thereby to establish clearance at the opposite side of said space for receiving a carrier from the other said passageway.

9. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a plurality of carriers each including means to receive and support one of said cards, a casing for said carriers of sufiicient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of suilicient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said car- .riers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means de fining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at each end of said casing for one said stack of carriers and to establish a passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, a drive located in said central zone including means for engaging successive carriers within said passageways to move said carriers in opposite directions through said passageways while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, each said coupler including a disk portion adapted to slide on the bottom of said casing and including also a pair of parallel and vertical projections, each said carrier having a lengthwise slot in the bottom therein closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the side of each said carrier to support said carriers thereon, and a plate located in the bottom of each said stack space in spaced relation with the adjacent end of said central zone, each said plate being of substantially the same thickness as said disk portions of said couplers to maintain the couplers between carriers in each said stack closely adjacent the inner ends of said stack while receiving and supporting the outer end portions of said carriers in said stack.

10. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of suflicient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting anadjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, a drive within said casing includes means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said casing to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carriers to provide for alternate back and forth movement of said carriers within said casing without rotation of said carriers while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, a door at one end of said casing for access to said carriers to exchange the cards therein, and control means for said drive cooperating with said carriers to stop said drive when at least one of said carriers is aligned with said door.

11. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of suflicient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone within said casing, a drive located in said central zone'and including means for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said zone to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, guide means cooperating with said driveto cause said carriers to travel in a continuous path around said zone while maintaining all said carriers in substantially parallel relation throughout the movement thereof, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carrier to provide for shifting of the direction of movement of said carriers at the end of said zone while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, a door in one end of said casing extending along said central zone for providing access to said carriers for exchanging the cards therein, and a control switch for said drive including a member supported for periodic engagement by successive carriers to stop said drive when at least one said carrier is aligned with said central zone and said door.

12. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of suflicient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone within said casing, a drive located in said central zone and including means for engaging successive carriers at opposide sides of said zone to move said carriers edgewise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said engaging means, guide means cooperating with said drive to cause said carriers to travel in a continuous path around said zone while maintaining all said carriers in substantially parallel relation throughout the movement thereof, said carriers and said couplers including interfitting portions proportioned for relative shifting movement lengthwise of said carrier to provide for shifting of the direction of movement of said carriers at the end of said zone while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, a door in one end of said casing extending along said central zone for providing access to said carriers for exchanging the cards therein, a control switch for said drive including a member supported for periodic engagement by successive carriers to stop said drive when at least one said carrier is aligned with said center zone and said door, and a lock for said door including a second switch in parallel with said control switch for preventing interruption of said drive by said control switch when said door is locked.

13. A device of the character described for moving successive articles from a plurality thereof in an operative position, comprising a casing, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said articles, said casing being of sufficient length to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of sutficient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at each end of said casing for one said stack of carriers and to establish a passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, a drive located in said central zone including means for engaging successive carriers within said passageway to move said carriers through said passageway while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said engaging means, said couplers being relatively movable from one end to the other of the carriers associated therewith to facilitate stacking and unstacking of said carriers While retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and means defining said operative position at one side of said casing and adjacent said path.

14. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a vertically elongated casing, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of sufficient height to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein and of sufiicient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers.

at each end of said casing each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at the top and bottom of said casing for one said stack of carriers and-to establish a passageway on the side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, a drive located in said central zone including means at both ends of said casing for engaging successive carriers within said passageway to move said carriers through said passageway while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said engaging means, means forming a relative slidable connection between each said coupler and both of the associated said pair of carriers in the direction of the length. of said carriers to provide for stacking and unstacking of said carrier in said face to face relation while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and means forming a viewing window in the side of said casing and adjacent said passageway.

15. A display device of the character described for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a vertically elongated casing having a viewing window in the side thereof, a plurality of carriers within said casing each including means to receive and support one of said cards, said casing being of suflicient height to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation therein, a plurality of couplers at each end of said casing each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, a drive within said casing including means adjacent both ends of said casing for engaging successive carriers at opposite sides of said casing to move said carriers lengthwise in opposite directions within said casing and past said window, each said coupler including a disk portion adapted to slide on the adjacent end of said casing and including also a pair of parallel and horizontal projections, each said carrier having in each end thereof a slot extending from end to end thereof and closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the width of each said carrier to support said carriers laterally thereon, said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other within said slot to provide for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other in cooperation with said drive to cause travel of all of said carriers in a continuous path within said casing while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

16. A display device for continuously displaying successive cards from a plurality of such cards, comprising a plurality of carriers each including means to receive and support one of said cards, a casing for said carriers of sufficient height to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation vertically therein and of sufiicient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise relation forming a stack therein, a plurality of couplers at each end of said casing each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing proportioned to establish a space at the top and bottom of said casing for one said stack of carriers and to establish a vertical passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, drive means adjacent each end of said central zone for engaging successive carriers within said passageways to move said carriers in opposite directions through said passageways, each said coupler including a disk portion slidable on the adjacent end of said casing and including also a pair of horizontal projections, each said carrier having in the end thereof a slot extending from end to end thereof and closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the width of each said carrier to support said carriers laterally thereon, and said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other within said slot for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

17. A display device for continuously displaying successive display cards, comprising a plurality of carriers each including means to carry one said card, a casing of sutfieient height to receive a plurality of said carriers in end to end relation vertically therein and of sufiicient width to receive a plurality of said carriers in sidewise stacked relation, a plurality of couplers at each end of said casing each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith a continuous linkage, means defining a central zone in said casing establishing a space at the top and bottom of said casing for one said stack of carriers in a vertical passageway on each side of said zone for passage of said carriers in single file from one said stack to the other, drive means adjacent each end of said central zone for engaging successive carriers within said passageways to move said carriers in opposite directions, each said coupler including a disk portion slidable on the adjacent end of said casing and a pair of horizontal projections, each said carrier having in the end thereof a slot extending from end to end thereof and closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said disk portions of said couplers being substantially equal in diameter to the width of each said carrier to support said carriers laterally thereon, said slot and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other within said slot for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other while retaining said carriers in said connected relation, and guide means in each said stack space for maintaining the couplers between carriers in each said stack closely adjacent the inner ends of said stack to cause periodic positive shifting of said end of said stack as each successive carrier is drawn into one said passageway from said stack and thereby to establish clearance at the opposite side of said space for receiving a carrier from the other said passageway.

18. In a device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively from a first stack thereof to a second stack, the combination of a plurality of carriers each adapted to receive one of said articles therein, coupling means connecting each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection between each said coupling means and both of the associated said pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to connect said carriers in unbroken succession while allowing stacking and unstacking thereof in face to face relation thereof, and drive means adapted for direct driving engagement with said carriers in sequence to propel said carriers in sequence from the first said stack thereof to said second stack while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engage ment with said driving means.

19. In a device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively from a first stack thereof to a second stack, the combination of a plurality of carriers each adapted to receive one of said articles therein, coupling means connecting each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection be tween each said coupling means and both of the associated said pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to connect said carriers in unbroken succession while allowing stacking and unstacking thereof in face to face relation thereof, drive means for causing said movement of said carriers including a drive wheel having projections thereon, and means on said carriers for engagement with said projections upon rotation of said drive wheel to cooperate with said wheel in propelling said carriers in sequence from the first said stack to said second stack while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said driving means.

20. In a device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively from a first stack thereof to a second stack, the combination of a plurality of carriers each adapted to receive one of said articles therein, coupling means connecting each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection between each said coupling means and both of the associated-said pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to connect said carriers in continuous succession while allowing stacking and unstacking thereof in face to face relation thereof, drive means positioned between said stacks and adapted for direct driving engagement with said carriers, and means between said stacks for guiding successive said carriers from opposite ends of said stacks into driving engagement with said drive means toeffect propelling of said carriers in sequence from opposite ends of each said stack to the other said stack while drawing the next following said carriers into position for said engagement with said driving means.

21. In a device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively from a first stack thereof to a second stack, the combination of a plurality of carriers each adapted to receive one of said articles therein, coupling means connecting each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection between each saidcoupling means and both of the associated said pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to connect said carriers in unbroken succession while allowing stacking and unstacking thereof in face to face relation thereof, drive means for causing said movement of said carriers including a drive wheel located between said stacks and having projections thereon, means on said carriers for engagement with said projections upon rotation of said wheel to propel said carriers, and means between said stacks for guiding successive said carriers from opposite ends of said stacks into said engagement with said wheel to efiect propelling of said carriers in sequence from opposite ends of each said stack to the other said stack while drawing the next following said carriers into position for engagement with said wheel.

22. In a device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively from a first stack thereof to a second stack, the combination of a plurality of carriers each adapted to receive one of said articles therein, a plurality of couplers each connecting an adjacent pair of said carriers to form therewith an unbroken linkage, drive means adapted for direct driving engagement with said carriers to propel said carriers in sequence from the first said stack thereof to said second stack While drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said driving means, each said coupler including a pair of parallel projections, and each said carrier having a slot extending from end to end thereof and closed at the ends thereof to receive one said projection on each of a pair of said couplers, said slots and said projections being proportioned for movement of said projections past each other, within said slots to pro vide for alternate shifting of said couplers from one end of the associated said carriers to the other and progressive stacking and unstacking of said carriers in response to the operation of said drive while retaining said carriers in said connected relation.

23. A display device for moving a plurality of display cards successively into a viewing position, comprising a casing, a plurality of card carriers in said casing each including means for receiving a card therein, means at one end of said casing for receiving a group of said carriers in stacked face to face relation, means at the other end of said casing for receiving another group of said carriers in stacked face to face relation, means coupling each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection between each said coupling means and both of the associated pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to provide for stacking and unstacking of said carriers in said face to face relation while retaining said carriers in said coupled relation, and drive means engaging said carriers in sequence as they traverse said viewing position to propel said carriers in sequence from one of said stacked groups to the other while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said drive means.

24. A device of the character described for moving a plurality of articles successively into an operative position, comprising a casing, a plurality of carriers in said casing each including means for receiving one of said articles therein, means at one end of said casing for receiving a group of said carriers in stacked face to face relation, means at the other end of said casing for receiving another group of said carriers in stacked face to face relation, means coupling each adjacent pair of said carriers, means forming a slidable connection between each said coupling means and both of the associated said pair of carriers in the direction of the length of said carriers to provide for stacking and unstacking of said carriers in said face to face relation while retaining said carriers in said coupled relation, means at one side of said casing defining said operative position, and drive means engaging said carriers in sequence to propel said carriers in sequence from one of said stacked groups to the other while drawing the next following said carrier into position for said engagement with said drive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 849,493 OBrien Apr. 9, 1907 1,022,743 Kellum Apr. 9, 1912 1,201,243 Blair Oct. 17, 1916 1,341,950 Trulock June 1, 1920 1,728,850 Bandini Sept. 17, 1929 1,757,379 Mead May 6, 1930 2,142,171 Boston Jan. 3, 1939 2,201,939 Auger May 21, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,360 Germany Feb. 11, 1879 412,319 Great Britain June 28, 1934 

